Major Academic Update: The SATs Are Getting an Important Makeover

Future test takers, you're gonna want to read this.

School testing is pretty much always a hot-button topic. That goes extra for the SAT, a test that wields the power to majorly influence who gets into which colleges. But in recent years, administrators and educators alike have given serious thought to the role SATs should play in college apps&#8212and soon enough, the exam will undergo an overhaul that could positively impact you. Here's the deal:

David Coleman, the CEO of the College Board (the group that administers the SAT), recently announced that big changes are coming to the test as of fall 2016. There's still going to be reading and writing (also known as the verbal section) plus math, but there will also be a new third section of the exam, in the form of an optional essay graded separately and on top of the 1600 point scale. Oh, and did we mention no more need for calculators on the math part? Um, yeah.

Coleman says that the revamped SAT won't ask you to memorize vocabulary words, either. Instead, you'll read passages about different kinds of subjects, including science and social studies, and answer questions that prove comprehension. Generally, the new test focuses on the way people think and solve problems instead of how good they are at remembering facts&#8212it was actually designed, in part, as a response to colleges themselves, which are putting more weight grades and class difficulty rather than standardized scores (in fact, some schools are not asking students to submit their test scores at all!).

What's more: On top of all the exam tweaks, the College Board is also partnering with the Khan Academy, an online school that teaches short classes on all kinds of topics via YouTube videos, to provide test takers with a series of exam prep videos. This is great news for students who can't afford to take SAT prep classes or pay for expensive private tutors. The free Khan Academy classes will be available to anyone with an internet connection, and once students take the SAT they'll be able to apply at up to four universities without having to pay the application fee. For some students, that can make a huge difference.

We admit… It does suck to have the SAT keep changing on you, especially when you're already stressed enough about school, grades, extracurriculars, and all the other stuff that goes on your college application. But if there's anything we can take away from this news, it's that universities are starting to figure out that you are way more than your test scores. About time, isn't it?